Thoughts on the passing of Kerry Packer........

[Sheetshooter]

Thaddeus and Loz,

I applaud you for your sentiments expressed here. And Matt K I am delighted to have read your plea for reason.

I have had a close association with the Packer dynasty most of my working life. As a kid, I worked at 'Packer's Palace Of Electric Pictures On The Hill' over at Willoughby while Sir Frank was at the helm.

Later I encountered Kerry at ACP on a regular basis and also had contact with Kerry's widow Ros at the finals of the Queens Cup polo at Smith's Lawn in Windsor. The Packers were never too aloof to acknowledge and chat to the minions.

I lived high on the hog for a very long time thanks to Kerry Packer and his Company. I found the Company policy to be one of generous reward when earned.

Both the Packers and the Murdochs put their progeny into their organisations to learn the business of publishing from the ground up - for years (until the Warwick Farm incident) Jamie was just another kid selling ads on the 'Weekly' and mixed in with all and sundry. All these folk have ink in their veins - a far cry from the likes of Boards on Publiching Houses with no expertise at all in media.

Kerry had a tougher life than most would possibly realise today. He was beaten by his father, harshly punished and reprimanded and left out of contention for any tranfer of power.

And yet, when Sir Frank died the Estate to be divvied up between the boys was just $8 million. Not a lot even then. Kerry's acumen and courage saw him buy out his brother's major holding and build his worth to Billions.

I believe that Kerry Packer's death is a great loss to the country. His investments went far beyond just the media and his weekly payroll put a great many feeds on a great many tables.

Why is it fitting that his passing be discussed here? Because along with thousands of writers Kerry Packer employed thousands of photographers - not just news hacks but specialists like myself with glamour and architecture, and others whose areas might be food or lifestyle or any of the myriad subjects covered by his publications. And all the time ACP (the publishing interest of the Packer Empire), although the linchpin of the organisation ran at a loss. At any time he could have sold ACP and invested the money elsewhere for a far higher return on investment. He didn't. He supported Australian workers and gave them jobs. And for that a group of people who never knew jhim as anything other than a headline choose to denigrate him and, upon his death, dish out the sort of thrashing that his father dealt him Ain't it all a bleedin' shame?

Ave atque vale. (Catullus)

[Sheetshooter]

Hopefully after his death the media industry is more independant in discussions instead of bowing to its masters. No sympathy for a bloke who uses casino money for charity works. Gambling money is dirt money...there is no two ways about it.

Miliux,

What cabbage leaf have you been hiding under these past dozen years? The greatest beneficiary of gambling revenue is the (State) Government which, in a number of ways, see it as a form of both direct and indirect taxation. If you have kids who go to school or relatives in a hospital they are in no short measure gaining whatever benefits they receive in no small measure as a result of gambling. Having said that, I am not a gambler and never have been.

Cheers,

[Miliux]

I still think that gambling causes problems which outways the benifits.

But Kerry was a real buisnessman who was sucessful in expanding his assets. I can sympathise why so many are loyal to him.

[Glen]

What a great compliment to someone to spark this much debate.

KP as a larger than life figure is open for discussion, but many of the attacks here are based on hearsay and unfounded. I will say at the outset that I am on Loz's and Thaddeus side in this discussion. I can quote first hand cases where KP has personally authorised supporting staff through illness, in one case paying wages for two years for an employee. I will also say as a number of my friends have negotiated and been retained by him, that if you are being paid by CPH, there is a margin included for being spoken to in a brusque, domineering and aggressive manner. Most believe that is just about compensated by the fat cheque attached, some do not as is their choice.

I have seen comments by people here that CPH should pay the amount of tax set by the ATO, that is simplistic and I ask them if they could tell me how much that is? I am not sure of how large the tax act is (Stubbsy probably knows), but it is nothing like the 8 page simple guide the ATO provides PAYG employees. I see comments about buying things in company names, should he have purchased Channel 9 in his own name. Should the plumber drive his truck on the weekend. People concerned about that should not shop at Westfields as Westfields pay 1/2 million dollars a year in maintenance on Frank Lowy's boat.

Packer companies paid a lot of direct and indirect tax, more than I could ever hope, all the while employing Australians and keeping the economy moving.

Interesting to note that many here are prepared to call him a prick or a bastard, I am assuming never having met him but based on hearsay. I can confirm that good deeds I know of first hand I have never read about at all. The Packers always paid their way.

While many here feel free to debate KP choice of charities, I would like to ask them to look into their own soul and reflect on their own choices. One year ago from KP death, we all had the misfortune to witness the greatest natural disaster in memory. Something like half a million people lost their lives. At the time I donated, and have a few times since then. I believe I have donated enough to provide 4 or so temporary houses (Yes I claimed it as a tax deduction). Why did I do it? Probably because it made me feel good, maybe because it was the right thing to do or realistically I hope that someone would do the same for me if I had that misfortune and how can I expect that if I am not willing to step up myself?

So my question for all those willing to pass judgement on KP's charitable donatioms, what have they done for their brothers in the Tsunami affected countries? Don't bother saying to yourself KP was a billionare, but I am unemployed, a student, in jail, etc, there have been many stories here about lenses purchased or nights out, do you guys who passed judgement feel you did all you could, or did you do what you could as long as it didn't inconvenience your lifestyle? Did any of you guys even go as far as to suffer a little hardship? I know I was not man enough to, unless you count putting off the purchase of lenses or cameras as hardship. Looking back on this year, when tsunami victims are still in tents, and I can see many things more I could have done, nights out with mates, etc I could have cancelled but didn't.

Lets look inside before the green eyed monster of envy encourages us to criticise others

[Glen]

Walter your post came through as I was writing mine, very well put.

[Glen]

Miliux, what do you mean he uses casino money for charity? Are you privy to the companies tax returns? This sounds like hearsay again. The company is really just entering gambling. Friends of mine work for the casino section, I can assure you it is a case of globally greater outgoings than income. Any gambling money used for charity would be won by KP from the casinos, not from the other side. Interestingly, KP was known as a "whale" one of only a dozen or so in the world, that is someone prepared to gamble US $10-20m in one sitting.

Miliux, I agree with you that gambling is an insidious industry which bring sorrow to many. You should address your complaints to the labour government in NSW, who have turned every local hotel into a casino, not KP.

[nito]

Glen, I have done my fair share of charitable donations. Whether it for the Tsunami victims, bush fire victims, the enviromment, cancer research, arthritis research, diabetes and MS research. Even in the time when I was a student and couldnt afford anything let alone a camera.

My quest in life is not to collect len's or have a super expensive camera. It's not to be rich or famous and have a mansion and numerous sports cars I am here to save lives.

The truth be said, most humans need to do more for man kind whether rich or poor. People need to be less selfish.

[Glen]

Nito, my comments were not looking to personally attack you but point out that KP has looked after his own many times. What one reads in the paper is the tip of the iceberg with the Packers. They are notoriously private and shun publicity, so how people think they can pass judgement on the basis of a few stories is unbelievable. How you based your comment is more what interests me, I have personally heard of many stories of generosity and compassion which never ever made the press. So I can say categorically that is not true. What I find a little frustrating is that people who can't possibly know all the facts are happy to denigrate a dead man in a public forum.




Just for the record, I have never been the beneficiary of the Packer largesse, thinks he is an averagely ok bloke who occasionally helped others in the way a benevolent dictator does. No huge fan, though thought him a good businessman, but he is nowhere near as black as many are making out.

Nito, you are so right when you say most need to do more for others.


Now, where is my Cadillac?

[Killakoala]

Walter and Glen,

Thankyou for bringing some balance to this thread.

Although i have no personal feelings for KP, it is nice to hear that he is not just a corporate tyrant but a normal human being with a lot of money.

I get the impression from hearing and listening to others here and on TV, that Kerry Packer lived life much that same as anyone would, but just on a larger scale. I don't hold that against him. I admire him for that, it would have been so easy to become a corporate raider and a complete bastard with the amount of power he had.

He was also a major player in Australian politics with his affiliations with Prime Ministers and those running the country. I would love to have been a fly on the wall during some of those conversations.

RIP Kerry Packer. Your legacy will last a long time.

[LOZ]

Well I will get off my high horse now my comments were based on what I personally know of Kerry and took offence of comments made. It was very unpleasant to read many of the posts here on his death of which many were totally unfounded.

Next time this situation accurse think of those who feelings may be hurt. I personally would never speak badly of the dead please have a little respect. In a open forum such as this there are many mixed views some correct some not .With such a mixing of people here their will again come a time where we should keep some comments to ourselves.

(Consider the meaning of the word liable)

As my Great Grandmother would say if you could not say something pleasant about someone, say nothing at all. AMEN

Thank you Sheetshooter
Thank you Glen

LOZ

[nito]

Glen, sorry about that, what I wanted to point out is that often people dont donate to charities until it affects them.

Despite all the controversy surrounding his death any man/women deserves respect when they pass away. Certainly, Mr Packer surely does. So let us stop this debate and give him dignity in his passing.

[Greg B]

Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has got one.

And it seems that when an opinion is held, the holder believes that opinion to be the correct position,
while anybody with a differing opinion is wrong. That, of course, is the nature of holding an opinion. And
the holders of opinions often state that they have that opinion because they know the truth, whereas other
people do not. And yet the other people believe that they're opinion is correct.

There will be times when people express opinions which others don't like. So we discuss the point and agree to
differ. But everybody is still entitled to hold and express they're opinions.

IMHO.

[leek]

RIP KP

Australia shall be poorer without you...

[Killakoala]

Australia shall be poorer without you...

Is this your opinion on James's abilities of fiscal managment with Kerry's money? After OneTel, who could blame you

[Heath Bennett]

He is dead, time to leave him alone.

[gstark]

I think I've seen about six or seven posts in this thread that seem to me to be of merit.

Yes, he has passed on.

Yes, he did a lot to minimize his taxes. T%hat ws his legal right, and we need to remember that he was not responsible for writing that horrendous piece of arcanity, the Australian Taxation Act. The he employed peoiple toi read an interpret it to his ultimate benfit is true. It was also his legal right, as it is every other citizen of Australia's right.

Yes, he also gave a lot to charity. Philanthropy is something that is sadly lacking in many of our more elite citizenry, but Packer was not amongst those.

And just what this all has to do with DSLRUSers is hopelessly beyond my comprehension.

The weather in SF is cool and cloudy, with periods of rain.

And this thread is closed, because it's as irellevant to our forum as my SF weather report.